MONTREAL – What do you get a franchise that has won more Stanley Cups than any other franchise, but hasn’t won it since the 90’s, just traded one of their better defensive prospects for young scorer who has a ton of upside, and has one of the best goaltenders in the NHL? Well, in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, get try and get them a player who can play sooner rather than later, and in this day and age where a league 
gets younger and younger all the time, it doesn’t seem impossible.
That said, the Montreal Canadiens have the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, and will look in a couple of areas instead of drafting best-player-available (BPA) this time around, at least in the first round due in part because of the recent trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Jonathan Drouin. The Habs could use a center and more scorers along the wings but regardless of what position they play, Montreal will be more than glad to take a look at them in a forward heavy draft.
Getting Shea Weber was a good thing despite the success of P.K. Subban, but defense and goaltending has always been a Canadiens staple for years. It is a the shame that most of the top d-men are already off the board by the Habs pick at #25, but that should not deter Montreal for going for defense when it is time to make the announcement in Chicago.
If the Habs go forward, Jason Robertson, Isaac Ratcliffe, Shane Bowers, Robert Thomas, Kole Lind, and Grant Mismash are still on PHN’s board in our mock draft. If they decide to go for a d-man Urho Vaakanainen and Henri Jokiharju are the two BPA defensemen left on our board. Don’t be surprised if the Habs pull a fast one by going goaltender though since Carey Price can’t and won’t play forever and with a contract year coming up.
That said, we expect Montreal to make the following announcement come draft day.
“With the 25th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens select, from Joensuu, Finland, Urho Vaakanainen.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.